Actual output with progressive press?

[Questor]

All the manufacturers of progressive presses make productivity claims. What's your actual output? Include set up time, time spent on all operations, like weighing test charges and filling primer tubes, and clean-up time. Also specify your cartridge.

Mine is a Dillon 550 with no options. Loading 45ACP. 250 rounds per hour. Typical session is for 500 rounds.

[John R.]

If my 550 is already on the caliber I want to load I can do 350 an hour, no sweat. Most of the time I set an easy pace and its probably close to 250 an hour.

[encore3006]

 

[Rum River]

Using a 550 Dillon and loading target pistol rounds (.45ACP, .38 Special, 9mm etc.) the fastest has been 400/hour. That's filling primer tubes and making periodic powder charge checks.

Including set-up and inspection time, production rate is more like 250-300/hour. Typical session is for 500-1000 rounds.

[kyote]

set up takes a while.I recheck and make things work better.clean all the dies.I have 20 primer pick up tubes 10 large and 10 small.One 550 and 2 square deals.I have never really counted how much ammo I do in an hour.and I am never in a big hurry.I check powder weight every time I dump a new set of primers in the hole.and normalyy run the shell holders empty and clean the shell plate with a shot of compressed air and a brush,I also check the loaded bullets for uniformity and quality.I normally can fill a .50 cal ammo can in several days with pistol ammo just putzin around in the shop.
as for rifle ammoI do not use the press for the whole operation.,I use my rock chucker and other then Dillion dies to resize the brass,remove the primer.then trim the case and do primer pockets and clean them when I have a 5 gallon bucket full I will run them through the 550 with out the sizeing dies.and they turn out gooder like that.and normally only do .223,.308,and 30-06.trying to resize the .308 and 06 in the 550 is tuff to say the least.I have a heavy bench the press sits on and can almost lift her off the floor.then there is the lube thing.I just don't like loading ammo with lube still on the case.none the less it's work.but fun work.